ThinkTankPhoto Sling-O-Matic 20 video review:

RWatkins wrote in post #11131877
So there is a Backpack conversion kit?

not officially, I'm using the UD backpack harness. I had to CUT the existing strap off.

Tommydigi wrote in post #11131942
I guess what I am saying about the UD 35, and maybe I don't understand it, is if this bag only goes over 1 shoulder anyway how is it different then a shoulder bag? I can wear a Urban Disguise bag the same way and switch shoulders easily. I don't get what makes this so special.

yes, they're both on a shoulder but slings are more supported because of how they sit and the fact it's got a much better padded strap. Lowe pro's, incase, ALL SLINGS are better than shoulder bags if carrying the same load. Trust me. You ALSO get very easy access right in front of you with them which is great if you shoot where you can't set your bag down. Sure you could tighten your strap on a UD to make this work.

But if you don't get it, it's probably not the bag for you? If your UD is working why change?

Tommydigi wrote in post #11132064
I guess this bag is pretty similar but a little boxy and little room for anything else but lenses. This thing looks like luggage.

you seem very hung up on the looks. If that matters, go buy a bag from someone else, TT's bags aren't really lookers, they're more function first IMHO (although the retros aren't bad looking). But this has significantly more room than my UD30 did. I can put everything that goes in my R10 into this and still have room. It's NOT a small bag by any stretch so "little room for anything else but lenses" is way off base. I had 3 bodies and 3 lenses in it for the video review. Today I have 2 bodies and 5 lenses?

great review. thanks!

I really like the Retro and UD bags but I really do not like backpacks so who knows I may like the sling style bags after I try it. The one thing I do not like about shoulder bags is how heavy it feels so I may end up liking this once I try it. A place near my house sells TT so I will give this one a look. Thanks for the review, your reviews are very in depth and right on.

Did you put that much in the Sling 20?

Tommydigi wrote in post #11161915
I really like the Retro and UD bags but I really do not like backpacks so who knows I may like the sling style bags after I try it. The one thing I do not like about shoulder bags is how heavy it feels so I may end up liking this once I try it. A place near my house sells TT so I will give this one a look. Thanks for the review, your reviews are very in depth and right on.

in that case, comfort wise it's halfway between a shoulder bag and backpack IMHO. All the weight is still on one shoulder, but it's supported and padded better. you also have the waist and sternum strap options.

not sure what you mean, but I currently have:

5D w/ 24L
7D w/10-22
18-55
100-400
tons of accessories

add to that a 24 TS-E AND A2 (old film body) and it all still fits... This can hold what the retro 10 hold easily.

What I was asking is what size sling o matic are you using for all this gear. My next bag needs to be something that can hold most all of my stuff as sort of a home base. Basically a pick up and go with all my gear. I was thinking of a Retro 30 would be great but now I have to give this a look too.

oh, this is the 20. The 30 seems to be about the same size camera wise but adds a laptop portion? It's slightly bigger camera wise I guess (1" and .5")....

Wow it holds more then I would have thought. thanks. Have you tried the R-30? do you think this or the R-30 would hold my sig? ( The retro bags are nice because I can ad the pouches )

the R30 would yeah, but how often do you really carry all your stuff around? Or is this bag a "garage" that will sit at home most of the time?

Ben.
Great review of the the Think Tank Sling.
It certainly does hold a lot of "good stuff".
As the case with all slings the more in the sling, the weight increases on just one shoulder, However, with the Think Tank, you do have the capability to switch shoulders, nicely done.
I have the Tamrac Evolution 8, like the Kata 3-1 series, does add the option of full time backpack which is a real benefit ergonomically. Better balance and distribution.
However less total space for two bodies etc.
So if we can incorporate the carrying space of the Think Tank Sling with the Backpack two strap option of the Tamarac Evolution 8...............

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11173686
the R30 would yeah, but how often do you really carry all your stuff around? Or is this bag a "garage" that will sit at home most of the time?

I was thinking more of a bag that would pretty much just hold everything at home or the rare occasion I take all my gear. If I take all my gear it would basically just be carried to where I am then set down. I would not be walking around with 20 pounds of lenses.

As to the Sling , I must admit after watching the review I am getting interested. Looks like it holds 2 bodies very easily with quick easy access.

Thanks Ben! Great video review.

I like the look and functionality of this bag, but not sure I'm a fan of sling bags. I'm a backpack person.

Can you do something small to (iphone vid or few pics) on the "conversion/mod" to make it a backpack?

Thanks

Nick5 wrote in post #11173943
So if we can incorporate the carrying space of the Think Tank Sling with the Backpack two strap option of the Tamarac Evolution 8...............

buy this, get your knife out, buy their backpack harness as well and be VERY happy.
I'll have shots/video up of the conversion soonish. I was thinking of waiting until after photoexpo Friday when I'll be talking with the TT guys, but I might just post it now?

and yeah, I had a kata 3n1-30 for a while, I (personally) don't like having wasted space up top, or at least not if I can't get at my ENTIRE kit from one side. The door/zipper was also weird/tricky. TT's bags are built better too IMHO. The tamrac was another consideration for sure, it's solves some of the kata issues but still has the top part as a waste (to me) and you can't access EVERYTHING from the side.

Tommydigi wrote in post #11174576
I was thinking more of a bag that would pretty much just hold everything at home or the rare occasion I take all my gear. If I take all my gear it would basically just be carried to where I am then set down. I would not be walking around with 20 pounds of lenses.

the retro30 would work great there but so would a lot of bags. Also consider the bugger UD bags as well as a lowepro stealth 650.

yes, it holds 2 bodies VERY well and in several different configs. As I show it they're bottom to bottom. But you can also throw them in sideways and at different ends of the bag if you wish. It took me a solid 30 minutes playing with the dividers to get it how I wanted it which is NOT a critique of the bag, there are just so many options and a lot of dividers.

kMayer wrote in post #11175887
I like the look and functionality of this bag, but not sure I'm a fan of sling bags. I'm a backpack person.

Can you do something small to (iphone vid or few pics) on the "conversion/mod" to make it a backpack?

Thanks

like I said, not sure if I'll wait out the weekend or not to respect TT (I feel I should show them first?) but I REALLY like the bag as a backpack. It's not too hard to image though, but yeah, shots and video are coming Monday at the latest.

It also makes a good shoulder bag with strap on the bar up top and the old sling bottom D-ring if you're after that as well. AND I can still sling it using one of the backpack straps if I wish.

Ben, Can you fit a 24-70 in without reversing the hood? The more I look at this the more I like it. I really don't like backpacks at all and shoulder bags are wearing on me so this may be a great option for me.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11176770
like I said, not sure if I'll wait out the weekend or not to respect TT (I feel I should show them first?) but I REALLY like the bag as a backpack. It's not too hard to image though, but yeah, shots and video are coming Monday at the latest.

It also makes a good shoulder bag with strap on the bar up top and the old sling bottom D-ring if you're after that as well. AND I can still sling it using one of the backpack straps if I wish.

ok, thanks. looking forward to it.